“WHAT IS FAITH?” A commonly ask questions to the Preachers, Teachers, Priests, missionaries of Christ and persons who are servants of Christ un proclaiming the Gospel of His Doctrines. But what really FAITH means?. Other will answer you, FAITH is the key for your salvation. Other may say FAITH is the powerful miracle-giver. Some says, FAITH is just believing in Jesus Christ. And missionaries of Christ said, Faith is the action and power.
Out of these answers, I wonder who really got the correct answer or who really satisfied my question. But one thing is for sure, FAITH is believing for things which are not seen but which are true (see Hebrew 11:1). Just like believing that there is really an air, even if you can’t see it. FAITH is believing that there is truly a GOD if you cannot see Him, rather you feel His presence. Just like the quotation “to feel is to believe!”
But how can we increase our faith in Jesus Christ? What are the things we need to do grow our faith in Him and to testify that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father live.
To have Faith, is to have CONFIDENCE in something or someone. The Lord has revealed Himself and His perfect character, possessing in their fullness all the attributes of love, knowledge, justice, mercy, power and every other needful thing, so as to enable your mind to place confidence in Him with any reservation.
PRAYER is one helpful thing in order to increase your faith on Him. Prayer is the gift given by Jesus Christ & Heavenly Father, for us to communicate to them. Prayer increases our Faith as we sincerely poor out our emotions to our personal prayer. Personal prayer is also an aid for our Faith to grow. As we take a look at the Holy Scriptures, ancient prophets and servants of GOD cry unto the Lord for mercy, and for blessings. And as their personal prayer was answered by the LORD, their faith grows and remain steadfast to Jesus Christ & Heavenly Father.
Faith is kindled by HEARING THE TESTIMONY of those who have faith (see Romans 10:14-17). As members of the Church testify about the truthfulness of the Gospel, the spirit touches the heart of the listeners especially the investigators of the church and let them feel the truthfulness with it. They will feel peace of mind and joy in their heart that will tend to burst and to gain faith and also testimony cannot be questioned by anyone. This will help others to feel and see the faith you have in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.
Miracles cannot produce faith rather strong faith is developed by OBEDIENCE to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith comes with righteousness. Obeying the commandments of God will truly develop your faith unto Him. You will feel that commandments are not a list of restrictions in this life rather a guidelines to a happier and worthwhile living. Upon your obedience, you believed in Christ and the blessings in following these commandments will soon be a factor that will cause your faith to move mountains.
A voluntary abstinence from food or the so called FASTING is a principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for developing spiritual strengths and strong faith unto Him and it has always existed among true believers. It has been proven that fasting increases the faith of the believers. Without doubt it was practiced by Adam and his posterity from the begging whenever they had the gospel among them. Fasting will draw you near closer unto God. Just like what Alma did in the Book of Mormon. He did fast and pray to know if the gospel of Jesus Christ was really true. And it caused his faith burst and his joy in knowing the truthfulness of Gospel.
READING & STUDYING SCRIPTURES increases your faith. By reading the Holy Bible, Book of Mormon and other scriptures you will know more about the mysteries and miracles the Lord had done unto this world. As we continue to study, we will gain testimonies and faith will eventually grow. Reading & studying these Holy Scriptures will make you understand how God works and how He blesses His faithful servants. Your faith grows as you become acquainted with him & His teachings as you search scriptures.
REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY (Exodus 20:8) Attending Church meeting every Sunday and observing it to keep it Holy will increase ones faith. In what sense? Church meeting is exceedingly expedient to be attended. This is only time to worship & thanks God for the blessings and guidance for the whole week. Keeping it Holy blesses your life. As we attend sacrament meeting, we will hear spirit-guided speakers and their strong testimony that will equip your faith to intensify, to grow like a seed that need to be nourished by the Words of God.
Amulek says, “For behold this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors” (Alma 34:32) if this is the time of preparation to meet God, then what should we do? REPENTANCE for our sins also increase ones faith. How? If you are true and sincere to feel sorry for all your sins to the Lord, Faith grows. Just like what happened to Mary Magdalene, the lady who committed adultery, people sent her to Jesus and cast by stone but Jesus said “Those who have no sin will be the first to cast her.” But no one did. And he said, “Go and sin no more.” At that scenario, we can perceive that Mary Magdalene, as she continues to her life, she repented and gain faith in Jesus Christ. If you repent and promise not to do the things you ought to do before, remission to your sins will be awarded and faith will be developed.
TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE TRUE CHURCH LEADS YOUR FAITH TO GROW. To be baptized, you must have the faith and you fully repented all your sins. To become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints is the way on how to cause your faith to grow. You will learn about the power of God (see D&C 84:20). When we baptized, we begin a new life of commitment to Christ (Romans 6:3-8) and that is an indicator that we have increased our faith in Christ—the LORD.
“Surely the Lord will do nothing but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants, the PROPHETS (Amos 3:7)” From this verse we can say that God only reveal his secrets and mysteries to the chose man who has a great faith. LISTENING TO THE WORDS OF PROPHETS,& APOSTLES OF CHRIST INCREASES OUR FAITH. The teachings of the living prophets provide an anchor of eternal truth in the world of shifting values and help us to avoid miseries and sorrows. As they speak, God speaks unto us. And those who believe and live the counsel of our living prophets and apostles will not go astray. You will increase our faith as the mysteries & secrets of God reveals unto his seers and revelators. Attending Church General Conference will equip you with burning faith in Jesus Christ as we listen to the spirit-guided speakers and their talks about the words of God.
I am grateful that God sent missionaries to me. And the missionaries of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter- Day Saints really got the correct answer that FAITH is the principle of Action & Power. Faith in Jesus Christ is more than a belief since true faith moves it possessors to some kind of physical and mental action. That we have to do all these things to cause our faith burning and intestifying for our whole life through. Truly, Definitely, & absolutely, FAITH WITHOUT WORK IS DEAD!
-BRO. DINO S. DIZON
LINGAYEN 1ST WARD SAINTS
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